"I'd like to say to Adele that I am your biggest admirer," Lagerfeld told New York Metro, where the initial interview had been printed.

"Sometimes when you take a sentence out of the article it changes the meaning of the thought. What I said was in relation to Lana Del Rey and the sentence has since been taken out of context from how it was originally published."

He added: "I actually prefer Adele, she is my favourite singer and I am a great admirer of her. I lost over 30 kilos over 10 years ago and have kept it off.

"I know how it feels when the press is mean to you in regards to your appearance. Adele is a beautiful girl. She is the best. And I can't wait for her next CD."

In the initial interview, Lagerfeld also insulted the men of Russia, saying: "If I was a woman in Russia I would be a lesbian, as the men are very ugly.

"There are a few handsome ones, like Naomi Campbell's boyfriend, but there you see the most beautiful women and the most horrible men."